Hooda appeals for expeditious construction of Ravi-Beas link

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today appealed the Centre to expedite work on the second Ravi-Beas Link project to ensure utilisation of India's legitimate share in the water of the Ravi river which is otherwise going to Pakistan.
The chief minister said that the waters of eastern rivers of Indus Basin were allocated to India for unrestricted use under the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
"Understanding the significance of Indus Water Treaty, Haryana had proposed a second Ravi-Beas link, which would ensure utilisation of India's legitimate share in the water of Ravi river which is otherwise going to Pakistan," Hooda said.

He was addressing a gathering on the golden jubilee celebrations of Bhakra Dam at Nangal in Rupnagar district.
Though the Centre declared this as a national project in 2008, little headway has been made, Hooda said.
"In this context, it is imperative that we should ensure that each and every drop of water of these rivers is utilised for the benefit of the nation which calls for joint effort," he said.

While congratulating the country on the golden jubilee of Bhakra Dam, Hooda described the project as a "temple" and said that he salutes all those who dedicated themselves for this project and lost their lives in its construction.

He said, "in the 1960's, we used to import food grains but with the construction of Bhakra Dam, we not only become self-sufficient but today India ranks among the leading exporters of food grains."
Punjab and Haryana are known as the food bowls of India, and are the largest contributors of grains to the central pool, Hooda said adding that this had become possible only because of the Bhakra Dam.
Hooda said that in 1963, when former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru dedicated this project to the nation, he (Hooda) was also present on the occasion of inauguration with his father Ranbir Singh, who was the Irrigation and Power Minister in Haryana government.